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<h1><a name="SECTION0015100000000000000000">
13.1 <tt class="module">pickle</tt> -- Python object serialization</a>
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<a name="module-pickle"></a>

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<p>
The <tt class="module">pickle</tt> module implements a fundamental, but powerful
algorithm for serializing and de-serializing a Python object
structure.  ``Pickling'' is the process whereby a Python object
hierarchy is converted into a byte stream, and ``unpickling'' is the
inverse operation, whereby a byte stream is converted back into an
object hierarchy.  Pickling (and unpickling) is alternatively known as
``serialization'', ``marshalling,''<a name="tex2html109"
  href="#foot36733"><sup>13.1</sup></a> or ``flattening'',
however, to avoid confusion, the terms used here are ``pickling'' and
``unpickling''.

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This documentation describes both the <tt class="module">pickle</tt> module and the 
<tt class="module"><a href="module-cPickle.html">cPickle</a></tt> module.

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<br><hr><h4>Footnotes</h4>
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<dt><a name="foot36733">... ``marshalling,''</a><A
 href="module-pickle.html#tex2html109"><sup>13.1</sup></a></dt>
<dd>Don't confuse this with
the <tt class="module"><a href="module-marshal.html">marshal</a></tt> module

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<li><a href="node314.html">13.1.1 Relationship to other Python modules</a>
<li><a href="node315.html">13.1.2 Data stream format</a>
<li><a href="node316.html">13.1.3 Usage</a>
<li><a href="node317.html">13.1.4 What can be pickled and unpickled?</a>
<li><a href="pickle-protocol.html">13.1.5 The pickle protocol</a>
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<li><a href="pickle-inst.html">13.1.5.1 Pickling and unpickling normal class
    instances</a>
<li><a href="node320.html">13.1.5.2 Pickling and unpickling extension types</a>
<li><a href="node321.html">13.1.5.3 Pickling and unpickling external objects</a>
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<li><a href="pickle-sub.html">13.1.6 Subclassing Unpicklers</a>
<li><a href="pickle-example.html">13.1.7 Example</a>
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